St. Martin-d’Entraunes (1040m) to the east of the pass is a nice little typical southern french village. Here a somewhat narrow road starts that goes to the pass. After a little while it splits up in two roads and I believe the left (south) one is the nicest and most interesting one. The roads join together again after around 5 km at the steepest place of the climb on this side (around 14%). It is very irregularly steep. The highest point (2093m) is reached before a little descent to the pass. You can also start already down at the Gorges de Daluis or Guillaumes (788m) if coming from Col du Quartier (Col de Valberg) (1674m), or down before the gorges at Pont de Gueydan (537m).

The road from the west starts just above Colmars (1245m) and has a rougher pavement (especially high up in the woods). Soon before the pass on this side there are also many annoying big drainage “sinks” on the road that one has to cycle through, which slows down a downhill journey (similar to the ones found at Col de Sarenne (1999m), but the ones here are not quite as nasty).

Other comments

The actual geographic pass is on a gravel road a little lower and it is seen from the pass height. It is very nice up at the pass height and at various places on the east side, but the west side is almost always in the woods and without views. This is the most southern pass above 2000 metres in the Alps and the climb could thus be rather hot, so be sure to bring enough water. Restaurants and cafés are found in Colmars and St. Martin-d’Entraunes. There is one bar before the last climb on the east side. See also: Col de la Cayolle (2326m) and Col d’Allos/Col de Valgelaye (2244m).
[FR-04-2093, BIG 310]